Bowling pin sweeping and clearing mechanism

ABSTRACT

A sweeper arm, guided in guide rails is linearly reciprocable by a motor driven crank through a linkage consisting of levers and links, and additional drive means are provided to swing the sweeper arm about the horizontal axis, upwardly, so that the sweeper arm will be lifted away from the alley floor and clear the field of vision. The sweeper arm can reciprocate approximately horizontally along guide rails which, at an end position, are open upwardly so that when a motor-driven gripper lifts the sweeper arm, rollers engaged in the guide rails can be lifted out of the guide rails for upward swinging movement.

ll it e t es Schmid et al.

[ BOWLING PIN SWEEPING AND CLEARING MECHANISM [75] Inventors: August Schmid, Schwerzenbach,

Switzerland; Georges Goens, Heverlee, Belgium [73] Assignee: Patentverwertungs-und Finanzierungsgesellschaft Serania AG, Glarus, Switzerland [22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 290,533

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 22, 1971 Switzerland l387l/7l [52] US. Cl 273/54 A [51] Int. Cl A63d 5/08 [58 Field of Search 273/43 R, 43 A, 54 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,316,183 4/1943 Patterson 273/43 R 2,250,503 7/1941 Rundell 273/43 R 2,942,884 6/1960 Scherzinger 2,949,300 8/1960 Huck et al. 2,697,605 12/1954 Montooth et al. 273/54 A X Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flynn & Frishauf 57 ABSTRACT A sweeper arm, guided in guide rails is linearly reciprocable by a motor driven crank through a linkage consisting of levers and links, and additional drive means are provided to swing the sweeper arm about the horizontal axis, upwardly, so that the sweeper arm will be lifted away from the alley floor and clear the field of vision. The sweeper arm can reciprocate approximately horizontally along guide rails which, at an end position, are open upwardly so that when a motordriven gripper lifts the sweeper arm, rollers engaged in the guide rails can be lifted out of the guide rails for upward swinging movement.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS U.S. Ser. No. 290,514, filed Sept. 20, 1972 US. Ser. No. 290,547, filed Sept. 20, 1972 The invention relates to clearing mechanism for sweeping bowling pins into the pin pit at theend of a bowling alley, and more particularly to a sweeper which is simple and can cooperate with pin setting equipment.

After each roll of a bowling ball the bowling pins that have been knocked down must be cleared from the end of the bowing alley into the pin pit, i.e., they must be removed. For this purpose the pins that have remained standing are first lifted with the help of a frame and the fallen pins are then swept into the pinpit whence they are conveyed by a travelling belt to an elevator which raises them to a higher level where they are brought into co-directional endwise alignment and delivered to a distributor. Not until the fallen pins have been removed from the end of the alley can a fresh set of pins be set down by the frame; the present invention relates,

to a mechanical sweeper by means of which the fallen bowling pins are removed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical sweeper for clearing the pins, which is simple and can sweep a relatively long horizontal area and then return to its starting position within the shortest possible time and which can move into a position of rest in which it will not obstruct the players view of the pins.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION A sweeper arm is linearly reciprocable by a motordriven crank through a linkage consisting of levers and links; drive means are provided for swinging the sweeper in one of its end positions about a horizontal axis.

The sweeper is rapidly operating, nearly noiseless, provides a rugged automatic clearing mechanism based on simple structural means not liable to cause trouble or breakdowns even if a bowl that has been accidentally prematurely rolled should hit the sweeper before it has been lifted out of the way.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic general view of mechanical bowling pin clearing equipment according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail of the pin clearing mechanism showing the sweeper in raised inoperative position;

FIG. 3 is the sweeper in an intermediate position prior to performing its sweeping traverse;

FIG. 4 is the position of the sweeper at the instant of disengagement of the hook; and I FIG. 5 is the position of the sweeper after the hook has been disengaged.

The installation for automatically setting up bowling pins which is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 functions without making use of cords for re-erecting the pins. The pins are set up on the floor of the bowling alley in their correct positions with the help of an overhead frame 2. This frame 2 whilst being lowered and raised is kept in a horizontal position by a parallelogram linkage 3. (See cross referenced application Ser. No. 290,514). The parallelogram linkage 3 is pivotally attached on the one hand to hinge pins 34 in a fixed frame 4 and on the other hand to hinge pins 33 in the movable frame 2. A horizontal transverse beam 5 in the movable frame carries a superstructure 6 containing two electric motors. One of these motors, indicated at 32, drives a crank 7 through a V-belt transmission 42. This eccentric or crank 7 rotates about an axis 8 and at its end remote from the axis of rotation 8 carries a crankpin 9. A chain 10 is attached to the crankpin. The other end of the chain 10 is fastened to a shackle pin 13 at the end of a hook 16 which is deflectable about a pivot pin 11 in the frame 2 which can be lowered and raised. .The frame 2 actually hangs on two chains 10, one on each side of the superstructure 6. The parallelogram linkage 3 ensures that during its ascent and descent the frame remains in a horizontal position. Hence, if the crank 7 is made slowly to rotate by the motor 32, the frame 2 will move up and down.

Mounted in the frame 2 in respect of each bowling pin in a set is a tipping basket in which the bowling pin is initially held in a horizontal position. During the descent of the frame 2 these tipping baskets together with the bowling pins which they carry tip from their horizontal into vertical upright positions in which the bowling pins are deposited exactly in their allotted positions near the end of the bowling alley. (for a detailed de scription, see Ser. No. 290,514)

The pin clearing equipment comprising the sweeper which will be hereunder described in more detail sweeps the bowling pins 12 that have been knocked down by a bowling ball into a pin pit 14 from which they are conveyed. on an elevator, or like handling means, upwards to a mechanical pin distributor which delivers them back into the tipping basket in the frame 2. fora detailed description of the distribution apparatus see Ser. No. 290,547).

In FIG. 1 a sweeper 15 according to the inventionis shown in its upper position into which it has been raised by the hook 16. This sweeper 15 can be slidably reciprocated in horizontal track rails 19, one on each side, and at the same time it can swing about a horizontal axis. The sweeper 15 consists of two side arms 44 which at their extreme ends carry a transverse sweeper board 43, and which are each rigidly affixed to a triangular plate 33 forming a carriage 20. Each of the two carriages 20 has two rollers 18, 30 which run in the guide rails 19 and up an inclined extension 28 of each rail. The rollers 18, 30 are rotatably mounted on axle pins 51, 52 fitted to the triangular plate 33. A rod 26 (FIG. 2) extends between the two carriages 20 and connects them. Near each of the triangular plates 20 a rod 22 is pivotably attached to the sweeper 15 by a pin 40. The other end of this rod is articulated to a two-armed lever 23 by a hinge pin 39. This two-armed lever 23 is rotatable about a horizontal pivot 24 which is fixed in the frame 5. The upper end of the lever is hingeably attached by a pin 38 to another lever 25 which is linked to the pin 37 of a crank 36. This crank 36 or eccentric can be driven by a motor to rotate about a shaft 27 in the direction indicated by an arrow D.

For removing the fallen bowling pins 12 from the alley 45; into the pit, the motor 32 is first switched on and relatively slowly turns the crank 7 in the direction indicated by an arrow A, thereby causing the frame 2 to descendand the'sweeper 15 to be swung out of its position in FIGS. 1 and 2 downwards into the position illustrated in FIG. 3. In the course of the continued rotation of the crank 7 the hook 16 disengages itself from the end of the rod 26, as shown in FIGS. 4-and 5. Motor 46 which turns the shaft 27 is now likewise switched on with the effect that the lowered sweeper 15 and itscarriages 20 are drawn along the guide rails 19 and push the bowling pins 12 off the floor of the alley 45 into the pin pit 14 at the end of the alley. The linkage 22, 23, 25 then returns the sweeper into its former position, at which instant the motor 46 is stopped again by a switch. The motor 32 which 'drives'the eccentric or crank 7 is now restarted but in the reverse direction of rotation i.e., contrary to. that indicated by the arrow A so that the hook 115 can re-engage the end of the rod 26 and raise the sweeper.

These movements will again be described in. some detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to' 5. The two horizontal rails 19 at one end each have .an extension 28 which obliquely slopes upwards. The upper flange near the end of the extension is cut away at 47 so that the roller 30 of the carriage 20 can rise out of this part of the rail 28 and assume the position shown in FIG. 2. This position applies when the sweeper 15 is in its raised position of rest after having been pulled upwards by the hook 16 engaging the end'of the rod 26 in the carriage 20. The sweeper 15 will now be in a substantially horizontal po-' sition as in FIG. 1 so that it does not interfere with a clear view fromthe bowling end of the alley of the freshly set up bowling pins and the alley is also clear for the next ball to be rolled.

When a ball 49 has 'struck, the frame 2 is lowered, this being effected by starting the motor 32 which starting from the end position in FIG. 2 turns the crank 7 in the direction of arrow A first into an intermediate position which is that illustrated in FIG. 3. In this position the crank 7 has turned from its position in FIG. 2 through an angle of about 90. This rotation of the crank 7 allows the frame 2 depending from the chain together with the hook 16' to descend. Consequently the rod 26 also descends and allows the carriage 20 to tilt in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 2) about its roller 18 and thus to swing the sweeper into a roughly vertical position as shown in FIG. 3 the roller 30 at the same time swinging into contact with the bottom flange 50 of the sloping extension 28 of the guide rail. Since the crank 7 continues to rotate in the direction of the arrow A, the hook 16 and the frame 2 will reach their lowermost position, which is that in FIG. 4, in which the crank 7 has turned from its initial position in FIG. 2 through an angle of about 180. By reference to FIG. 4 it will also be understood that the hook 16 has ceased to be in engagement with the rod 26 since the tilting movement of the carriage has been stopped. Continued rotation of the crank 7 in the direction of arrow A causes the frame 2 to rise again, and the hook 16 which can pivot at 11 likewise moves upwards. However, since the angle of the chain 10 after the 180 rotation of the crank is now steeper than in FIG. 2, the hook 16 cannot engage the rod 26 and thus leaves the carriage 20 and hence the sweeper 15 in the illustrated lowered positions, as will be understood by reference to FIG. 5. When the crank 7 rotating in the direction of arrow A reaches its top dead center it is stopped by the actuation of a switch. The sweeper 15 now carries out its previously described horizontal 4 sweep in the direction of arrow C and back again, due to the rotation of the motor-driven crank 36. This sweeping reciprocation for the removal of the fallen pins is not initiated until the frame 2 is back in its upper end position. After the removal of the fallen pins the frame 2' is relowered for the purpose of depositing a fresh set of bowling pins 12 on the floor of the alley 45. However, the direction of rotation of the motor 32 is now reversed, causing the crank 7 now to turn contrary to the direction of arrow A. The previously described movements of the hook 15 now proceed in the reverse order and the rising hook 16 will therefore engage the rod 26 and pull it upwards, tilting the carriage 20 upwards contrary to the direction of arrow B and restoring the sweeper 15 into its roughly horizontal position of rest, so that the starting situation shown in FIG. 2 is reestablished and the next ball can be rolled.

Tilt by the sweeper about l00 is usually adequate considering power requirements, and visibility in normally used bowling alleys. Moretilt, that is, lifting to a greater degree may be desired, but preferably not less, so that the sweeper will not interfere with visual aiming of the bowling balls. The motors may be geared motors, and control of the motors can be obtained from control panels and suitable limit switches.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the inventive concept.

We claim:

1. Clearing mechanism for sweeping bowling pins (12) into a pin pit (14) formed in a bowling alley comprising a sweeper (15);

stationary guide rails l9) guiding the sweeper in substantially horizontal, reciprocable direction;

a motor-driven crank (36) and a linkage including levers and links (22, 23, 2S) connecting the crank and the sweeper (15) for linear reciprocation of the sweeper along the guide rails between two end positions;

and lifting means (7, l0, l6) selectively engageable with the sweeper when the sweeper is in one of its end positions, and movable when engaged with the sweeper 15) to swing the sweeper upwardly about an essentially horizontal axis to swing the sweeper away from the alley and provide clear vision of the alley along its length.

2. Mechanism according to claim 1 wherein a pair of guide elements (18, 30) are provided, connected to the sweeper (l5) and engageable in said guide rails (19) to guide and support the sweeper;

and the lifting means comprises a pivoted gripper (l6) releasably engageable with said sweeper (15), the gripper (16) engaging the sweeper (15) in said one of its end positions and pulling the sweeper (15) upwardly and swinging the sweeper about said horizontal axis away from the alley.

3. Mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the lifting means comprises an eccentric means (7) and depending connection means (10) the gripper 16) being attached to said depending connection means, the angle of said eccentric means controlling position of the gripper (16) to effect engagement or disengagement with the sweeper (15).

4. Mechanism according to claim 3 wherein the sweeper includes a horizontal catch rod (26) located to be engaged by said gripper (16).

6. Mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the lifting means comprises a reversible motor (32) and eccentric means (7) driven by the motor;

and a gripper (16) releasably engageable with said sweeper l5) and connected to said eccentric means, the position of the gripper with respect to said sweeper l5) and engagement and disengagement therefrom being determined by rotation and the direction of rotation of said eccentric means.

7. Mechanism according to claim 1 including a motor drive (46) independent of said lifting means 7, 10, 16, 32) and connected to said motor-driven crank to effect horizontal displacement of the sweeper I 8. Mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the axis of swing of the sweeper lies in a line defined by said guide rails l9) and the angle of swing of the sweeper about said substantially horizontal axis in between 60 to 100.

9. Mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said guide rails 19) comprise channel sections (28) facing each other, said channel sectionsveach having a terminal portionwhich is upwardly open;

and said sweeper 15) is provided with roller means (30) engaging the channel sections and rolling on the lower portion thereof, the upwardly open section permitting escape of at least one of the rollers of the sweeper (15) from the respective channel section and permits pivoting of said sweeper about another roller( 18) acting as a fulcrum upon operation of said lifting means and swinging of the sweeper about the horizontal axis.

l0. Mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the sweeper comprises an essentially rectangular frame having four rollers located at the sides facing said guide rails, two of said rollers (30) being movable out of said guide rails at said upwardly open portions, the other rollers 18) being retained between said facing channel sections of the guide rails to form a fulcrum for upward swinging movement of said sweeper frame (15), the shafts of said other rollers defining said essentially horizontal axis;

and grippermeans 16) forming part of said lifting means to engage, the frame at a position spaced from said essentially horizontal axis and to lift the frame upwardly and away from the bowling alley.

ll. Clearing machine to sweep bowling pins 12.) into a pair of guide elements (18, 30) connected to thesweeper l5) and engageable in the guide rails 19) to guide and support the sweeper; gripper means (16) releasably engageable with the sweeper and located to engage the sweeper (15) when the sweeper is in one of its end positions to pull the sweeper upwardly and swing the sweeper about a horizontal axis connecting said guide rails (19), and away from the alley to provide clear vision of the alley along its length; an eccentric means 7), and depending connection means (10) connecting the eccentric 7) and the gripper, the angle of the eccentric means controlling the position of the gripper 16) to effect engagement, or disengagement of the gripper (16) with the sweeper l5); and a reversible motor (32) drivingly connected to said eccentric means (7). l2. Mechanism according to claim 11 wherein said guide rails (19) comprise facing channel sections (28), spaced from each other, said channel sections having a terminal portion which is upwardly open;

and the engagement means (30) on the sweeper engages the channel sections to engage the lower portion thereof, the upwardly open section permitting escape of at least a portion of the engagement means of the sweeper 15) from the respective channel section and permit pivoting of the sweeper about another portion of the engagement means acting at the fulcrum upon engagement of said gripper with the sweeper to swing the sweeper about the horizontal axis. 

1. Clearing mechanism for sweeping bowling pins (12) into a pin pit (14) formed in a bowling alley comprising a sweeper (15); stationary guide rails (19) guiding the sweeper in substantially horizontal, reciprocable direction; a motor-driven crank (36) and a linkage including levers and links (22, 23, 25) connecting the crank and the sweeper (15) for linear reciprocation of the sweeper along the guide rails between two end positions; and lifting means (7, 10, 16) selectively engageable with the sweeper when the sweeper is in one of its end positions, and movable when engaged with the sweeper (15) to swing the sweeper upwardly about an essentially horizontal axis to swing the sweeper away from the alley and provide clear vision of the alley along its length.
 2. Mechanism according to claim 1 wherein a pair of guide elements (18, 30) are provided, connected to the sweeper (15) and engageable in said guide rails (19) to guide and support the sweeper; and the lifting means comprises a pivoted gripper (16) releasably engageable with said sweeper (15), the gripper (16) engaging the sweeper (15) in said one of its end positions and pulling the sweeper (15) upwardly and swinging the sweeper about said horizontal axis away from the alley.
 3. Mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the lifting means comprises an eccentric means (7) and depending connection means (10) the gripper (16) being attached to said depending connection means, the angle of said eccentric means controlling position of the gripper (16) to effect engagement or disengagement with the sweeper (15).
 4. Mechanism according to claim 3 wherein the sweeper includes a horizontal catch rod (26) located to be engaged by said gripper (16).
 5. Mechanism according to claim 3 wherein the depending connection means includes a depending chain.
 6. Mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the lifting means comprises a reversible motor (32) and eccentric means (7) driven by the motor; and a gripper (16) releasably engageable with said sweeper (15) and connected to said eccentric means, the position of the gripper with respect to said sweeper (15) and engagement and disengagement therefrom being determined by rotation and the direction of rotation of said eccentric means.
 7. Mechanism according to claim 1 including a motor drive (46) independent of said lifting means (7, 10, 16, 32) and connected to said motor-driven crank to effect horizontal displacement of the sweeper (15).
 8. Mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the axis of swing of the sweeper lies in a line defined by said guide rails (19) and the angle of swing of the sweeper about said substantially horizontal axis in between 60* to 100*.
 9. Mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said guide rails (19) comprise channel sections (28) facing each other, said channel sections each having a terminal portion which is upwardly open; and said sWeeper (15) is provided with roller means (30) engaging the channel sections and rolling on the lower portion thereof, the upwardly open section permitting escape of at least one of the rollers of the sweeper (15) from the respective channel section and permits pivoting of said sweeper about another roller (18) acting as a fulcrum upon operation of said lifting means and swinging of the sweeper about the horizontal axis.
 10. Mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the sweeper comprises an essentially rectangular frame having four rollers located at the sides facing said guide rails, two of said rollers (30) being movable out of said guide rails at said upwardly open portions, the other rollers (18) being retained between said facing channel sections of the guide rails to form a fulcrum for upward swinging movement of said sweeper frame (15), the shafts of said other rollers defining said essentially horizontal axis; and gripper means (16) forming part of said lifting means to engage the frame at a position spaced from said essentially horizontal axis and to lift the frame upwardly and away from the bowling alley.
 11. Clearing machine to sweep bowling pins (12) into a pin pit (14) formed in a bowling alley comprising a sweeper (15); stationary guide rails (19) having an angled cross section, with a support edge (28), the guide rails being spaced from each other, and the angled cross section being, at least in part, upwardly open; a motor driven crank (36) and linkage means (22, 23, 25) connecting the crank and the sweeper (15) for linear reciprocation of the sweeper in the guide rails between two end positions; a pair of guide elements (18, 30) connected to the sweeper (15) and engageable in the guide rails (19) to guide and support the sweeper; gripper means (16) releasably engageable with the sweeper and located to engage the sweeper (15) when the sweeper is in one of its end positions to pull the sweeper upwardly and swing the sweeper about a horizontal axis connecting said guide rails (19), and away from the alley to provide clear vision of the alley along its length; an eccentric means (7), and depending connection means (10) connecting the eccentric (7) and the gripper, the angle of the eccentric means controlling the position of the gripper (16) to effect engagement, or disengagement of the gripper (16) with the sweeper (15); and a reversible motor (32) drivingly connected to said eccentric means (7).
 12. Mechanism according to claim 11 wherein said guide rails (19) comprise facing channel sections (28), spaced from each other, said channel sections having a terminal portion which is upwardly open; and the engagement means (30) on the sweeper engages the channel sections to engage the lower portion thereof, the upwardly open section permitting escape of at least a portion of the engagement means of the sweeper (15) from the respective channel section and permit pivoting of the sweeper about another portion of the engagement means acting at the fulcrum upon engagement of said gripper with the sweeper to swing the sweeper about the horizontal axis. 